Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-09
A SERIOUS JOKE.
How a Supposed Sham Wedding
Turned Out to be q Real One.

There IS living IN TINS city, writes
| Charleston Oily correspondent Of the
St. Louis Globe Democrat, an old gentle
man, seycnty=fye years Of age, whose
early life, inclusive of love, courtship
and marriage, forms fitting basis for
writer of romance to weave therefrom
an interesting story. But it is just as
interesting to the reader, perhaps, to
chronicle the actual events connected
Herewith. The old gentleman is Mr..
Richard Stoddard. He has been a
citizen of Coles County since 1898, and
hrs been identified with the county 8
growth.
Mr.. Stoddard is one Of the class Of
men who never grow old in thought or
action, always has possessed an admir-
alton for joke, has delighted in tell
ing them to others and equally delight
ed in having them penetrated on him
self. In those early days of settlement
in Illinois it was quite customary Gas in
all new countries, it seems) to tender
considerable license to practical joking
About the time of which we write there
aiyed in Charleston a justice of the
spssce named H. C. Dunbar. Dunbar
was also a fun-loving individual, and
Stoddard and he were in the habit of
playing practical jokes from time to
time on each other, which finally ended
in rather serious one.
1t seems that one bleak, dreary day
in the month of March, as disagreeble
as March days can sometimes be, Mr..
Stoddard came to Dunbar and Informed
him that friend of his Ounbar's), who
resided twenty miles from town, was to
be married that day, and had requested
that Squire Dunbar be sent up to pre-
form the ceremony. Fees were things
sought after more assiduously then than
now, marriage as well as any other kind,
and Dunbar, nothing doubling, proceed
FED on the journey. Arriving at the
at the place of destination, nearly
frozen, he was appalled, to find it was
only huge joke of Stoddard's. He
said nothing, but INDUCED inwardly in
few pages from profane history and
backward turned home, taking it good
naturally and blding his time to pay off
Stoddard in his own coin. An oppor-
tunity presented itself during the next
winter.
1t was the custom of early settlers to
get up mock weddings at their parties
of some couple who were particularly
''sweet' on each other, having the
sham ceremony performed by some sham
official or sham clergyman. One of
these parties was given on Christmas
evening, 1914, and Dunbar, with the
desigen of retailiating upon Stoddard,
went to the county clerks Office, Samuel
Huffman being the clerk, and produced
a marriage license for Richard Stoddard
and Catharine Rizor, young lady with
whom he had been keeping company for
some time. Armed with his documents
he proceeded to the party, and engine
cred matters so successfully as to have
Stoddard and Miss Rizor parties for
the ceremony. A justice of the
peace he was called on to perform the
(supposed) sham wedding. Confronting
the couple with due solemnity for
wedding "for keeps he asked the
usual questions required by law, was
answered satisfactorily, and wound up
by saying that, as they were aware, he
was an officer authorized by law to per
form the marriage ceremony, asked if
it was their ''desire to be united in holy |
wedlock.' They answered in the affir-
native, and he, holding the license in
his hand (Which they supposed was
nothing but blank piece Of paper
went through the ceremony in full, re-
ceived the responses, and solemnly
pronounced them ''man and wife. He
then turned away, made out the certif-
cate with the usual witnesses, went
over to the clerks Office, where he re-
turned the certificate and had it record
ed that night, without giving hint of
the genuineness of the proceedings.
The next day, however, the matter
leaked out, and so many of Stoddard's
friends joked him about being married
in so novel manner he went to the
clerk S office to investigate, and found
it true. He went to the girl and in
formed her what had occurred, when
quite an excitement arose. Of course,
she cried and Stoddard swore, no doubt;
not chat objected to each other, but to
The way they were inveigled into it.
At last Stoddard informed her they
had better make the best of s'horrid
oke" and call it genuine. Like good,
sensible woman, as she was, she con-
ented, and so the sham wedding turn
ID out real one, and, perhaps, there
lever lived in Charleston or anywhere
Use more devoted and loving couple
han MIR. and Mrs. Richard Stoddard.
Mrs. Stoddard died in 1872, leaving
'ehind her record worthy Of imitation
y the young woman of this country.
As to Squire Dunbar, be was last
leard of in Texas; but, if living or dead
lie doubtless has often reflected that be
aid Stoddard for his joke, with com
found interest.
The bronze statue of Voltaire recently ,
ct up in the Rue DrOuot, Paris has an
interesting history. 1t was made by NJ. :
Imile Lambert. who owns and lives in 8